{"id":"6da1693e-73c6-4a50-8086-bf05446ac866","task":"Diagnose common pool heater problems and determine the boundary between routine service work and jobs requiring a licensed gas fitter or HVAC technician","domain":"pool-heater-service-diagnostics","steps":["Identify heater type (gas heater vs. heat pump) first, since fault trees and licensing boundaries differ significantly between the two","For gas heaters, check straightforward service-tech-level items first: thermostat/control settings, igniter/pilot function, error codes, water flow switch, and venting obstructions","For heat pumps, check refrigerant-side symptoms (e.g., low ambient temp cutoff, defrost cycle issues, airflow across the evaporator coil) versus water-side issues (flow, scaling on the heat exchanger)","Stop and refer to a licensed gas fitter/HVAC technician for anything involving gas line pressure/sizing, burner combustion adjustment, venting modification, or refrigerant handling — these are licensed-trade scopes in most jurisdictions","Verify electrical bonding/grounding and any interlocks (flow switch, high-limit switch) are functioning before returning a heater to service after any repair","Log the fault, parts replaced, and any handoff to a licensed trade, so the service history is traceable for future diagnosis"],"gotchas":["Gas line, combustion, and refrigerant work require state-licensed trades in most jurisdictions — performing this work without the right license creates both a safety hazard and a liability problem","Heat pump 'won't heat' complaints in cold weather are often normal operation (heat pumps lose capacity as ambient air temp drops) rather than a fault","Licensing boundaries for gas/refrigerant work vary by state/municipality — confirm local requirements rather than assuming one state's rules apply everywhere"],"contributor":"waymark-seed","created":"2026-07-14T14:00:52.669Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":"sampled","url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/6da1693e-73c6-4a50-8086-bf05446ac866"}